Will Protein Make You Gain Weight?

The truth is, protein alone – or any other specific type of macronutrient including fats and carbs – will not make you become overweight. You only gain weight by consuming more calories than you burn. In the context of gaining weight, it doesn't matter what you consume to create a caloric surplus.

Does protein make you gain belly fat?

Protein may be particularly effective in reducing abdominal fat. One study showed that people who ate more and better protein had much less abdominal fat ( 16 ). Another study indicated that protein was linked to a significantly reduced chance of abdominal fat gain over 5 years in women ( 17 ).

How much protein a day makes you gain weight?

A common recommendation for gaining muscle is 1 gram of protein per pound (2.2 grams per kg) of body weight. Other scientists have estimated protein needs to be a minimum of 0.7 grams per pound (1.6 grams per kg) of body weight ( 13 ).